As a rule Chihuahuas DO NOT like children and when you take your Chi outside he
should always be in your arms or on leash, people do not understand that Chis
can bite the same as larger dogs do when someone gets in their space or
approaches their owners, people seem to think that because the are "adorable
and small" that their disposition is also adorable and small...NOT! Talk to the
person that has the child that got bit, you can smooth this incident over with
these people if you handle it right, do not get angry and if there is a medical
bill then pay it without any fuss, and make sure you keep in daily (even twice
daily) touch with them and check on the child, let them know you are concerned
and you care, but from now on keep that dog on a leash or in your arms if it
goes outside for any reason whatsoever...good luck and you won't get sued if
you let the people know how concerned you are and above all do NOT even mention
the fear of getting sued to them....normajean
Sheila <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hello, my name is Sheila and I have
a very serious problem that I
need some advice on.I have a 3 year old Chihuahua named Max, and I
am very seriously thinking of giving him up today because he just
bit a young girl at my apartment complex. I am sitting here shaking
and trying not to cry because I can very easily see myself getting
sued over this.
Max can be loving with me sometimes, but he hates everyone else. He
chases and bites at people where I live, for the simple crime of
just walking by him. He does not listen to me when I call him and
when I try pulling him back he just lunges after the person again.
This is not the first time he has lunged at someone, barking and
with teeth bared, and he has destroyed the vertical blinds in my
apartment from jumping up and down barking at people passing by. I
can't have visitors to my place because he is so awful. It's to the
point where no one can understand why I keep him.
I'm not sure if I can afford to get him trained. I live paycheck-to-
paycheck, and I'm a part-time student. He is neutered, so that's
been taken care of. I just don't know what to do, I'm at wit's-end
with this dog. I jokingly asked my vet last year if they made doggie
Prozac.
My family had a Chihuahua when I was growing up, and she was the
sweetest, most obedient dog. It's because of her that I accepted
this dog when he was being given up by my brother. He can be loving
at times and sweet with me, and it's for those brief flashes of
sweetness that I continue to deal with the aggravation. I just don't
understand his behavior, and I'm not sure how much more of this I
can take. I would give him to someone if I felt sure they could
correct his behavior problems and he would have a better home than
the one I can give him.
Can someone knowledgable about Chihuahas give me some advice on
this? I realize there are not enough good homes for the dogs that
are out there, let alone one with such aggression issues, and I'd
rather not give him up. But I am fast seeing that I may have to for
both of our benefits. Please help!
Sheila
